Gryphon Velo Racing had riders at a number of Upper Midwest events this past weekend, here’s a brief selection of team members in action.
A summary of results can be found on the Results page, usually early in the week.
GVR riders were active at three events in Wisconsin this past weekend — including the renowned Fat Tire 40 mountain bike race in Hayward, Wisc.
Full results from all the weekend races will be posted by midweek on our Results page here.
The request was simple. Make it as a retro as you can. The folks at Borah Teamwear in Coon Valley, Wisc., certainly delivered.
The company is rolling out a new line of custom long- and short-sleeve merino wool jerseys this fall, and based on how well our regular team kit turned out, we figured we’d give these pieces of equipment a whirl as a functional “fashion” piece.
Borah touts the wool jersey as able to keep the “body warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather, and can be used as a layering or standalone piece for riding or even racing.”
Depending on how you layer, the functional temperature range of the jersey is from about 35-70F, according to the company.
Look of this piece of gear to start showing up on some of our riders later this fall.
Additional information about the wool jerseys from Borah can be found here.
There’s no reason for the 2015 bike racing season to end just yet, we’ve got almost most three months of cyclocross ahead (some years its closer to four or five months).
For the uninitiated, ‘cross is a late season cycling discipline (with deep roots in Belgium) that challenges riders to race on grass, dirt, sand, mud, snow, and pavement while navigating obstacles like barriers, flyovers and run-ups. That means for a few hundred feet each lap riders are usually off the bike and running.
Think of the discipline as a steeplechase with a bike.
On the beach at Manitowoc (Karl Hendrikse photo)
The sport has seen rapid growth in the United States in recent years, thanks in large part to the accessibility, more-laid-back vibe, and spectator friendly nature of running multiple laps over a one- to two-mile course (usually in a park).
A recent skills clinic in Manitowoc hosted by by Sheboygan professional Brian Matter reinforced many of the basic skills need for the discipline, as well as the elements of challenge and fun that keep cross racing fresh week after week.
Brian Matter on the beach in Manitowoc. (Karl Hendrikse photo)
As we move in the cross seasons, a couple GVR riders offer up some thoughts on the attraction of the discipline, and things to keep in mind if you’re going to give the sport a try.
Robert Sorenson: Cross is fun. It’s one of those events that is a hoot to watch and participate in.
It’s family and spectator friendly since most of the races are held in parks (kids love parks) and with a one mile(ish) loop it’s easy to walk the course and catch “your rider” at multiple locations.
Quentin Gniot: Cross is all about transitions. Transition from pavement to dirt, from dirt to sand, from turns to straightaways, from riding to running. The secret to doing well at the events is to be “smooth” thru these transitions and to try and keep from burning too many matches as you move thru the course.
Robert Sorenson takes a corner at the Brian Matter skills clinic in Manitowoc Sept. 9. (Karl Hendrikse photo)
Robert Sorenson: Cross is technique, power, and smarts. The best cross racers are improving their technique and practicing and always learning. I went to a clinic and learned a lot in a couple of hours. But now I need to practice, practice, and practice some more.
Pre-riding the course before you race is essential to, well, knowing where you are going, what to expect, and maybe finding a few spots where you can gain an advantage.
Don’t’ be afraid to ask for advice from your peers on tire pressure or the best line around an obstacle. I have been on and off racing cross since 1994 and I am still learning.
Brian McWilliams: I think it’s all about the running. The bike is just a bonus.
Yep. That’s about right.
Quentin Gniot: Always remember that cyclocross is like a mullet; business up front and a party in the back, so have fun. Oh, and hand-ups are not a crime!
Here’s a little more on the topic of cyclocross from USA Cycling: http://www.usacycling.org/to-cross-or-not-to-cross-that-is-the-roadies-question.htm
GVR riders Kris Tiles and Julie Phelps recently shared some of their thoughts on cycling with the folks at Ben’s Cycle in Milwaukee.
Checkout out what they had to say by clicking on their respective photos for links to the full articles:
Tiles
Phelps
The 2015 Wisconsin Cycling Association cyclocross season got underway over the weekend with races in Manitowoc and Sheboygan. The team had a strong turnout at both races with riders taking a couple podium spots and a number of strong finishes (and some flat tires).
Full results from all the weekend races will be posted by midweek on our Results page here.
In an effort to give readers/followers a look inside the team and its partners, we’re launching the occasional question and answer feature called “The Last 200 Meters.” The idea is to take a two minute interview and see what happens.
For our first installment we’re talking to Andy Tegge, a self-described “shop rat” at JB Cycle & Sport in Howard, Wisc. (JB is one of GVR’s partners). Andy is one of the guys who keeps our bikes in working condition and handles all sorts of special orders for exotic (and rather mundane) equipment.
Q) What’s the best thing about coming to work every day?
A) I’ve worked here five or six year. It’s not like a real job. I get to hang out in the shop, talk bikes all day, work on bikes and help people get set up with bikes. The best part is when people don’t even have a bike and you get them on a good, decent, bike-shop quality bike for the first time and they just fall in love with it.
Q) How much riding do you fit in during the summer?
A) Our busiest season is when I want to be out riding and really don’t have the time to ride. I’m here working on (customers) bikes when I want to be out riding just as much as them.
Q) Let’s talk about supporting your local bike shop. In the day and age of online commerce, how important is it for customers to give some love to the brick-and-mortar shops in their communities?
A) It’s very important. People are pretty loyal to their bike shop, too… they go to the people they trust.
We’re basically a community bike shop and get a lot of people from the area who are able to ride to the shop, get something done, and then ride home.
Q) What are some of the more common, correctable, maintenance issues you see on a regular basis?
A) Make sure tires are properly inflated before people go out for a ride. We see a lot of pinch-flats in here. And cleaning your bike. Simple things like that.
Q) Muttonchops, beard or mustache?
A) Mustache for sure. John (Sommers) is the mustache king.
Q) How about for you?
A) Beard. I’m just too lazy to shave.
Look at that, your two minutes are up.
A hot humid weekend greeted a half-dozen GVR riders at the Lake Geneva Round of the Wisconsin Off Road Series of mountain bike races.
And since we like clichés, this weekend brought a little blood, sweat, and gears for team members. And some podiums, too.
Brian Trybula takes second in the Sport Clydesdale division
A rundown of weekend team results can be found weekly (usually posted early in the week) on our results page located here.
We’re also going to try to put up short videos from time to time (A few past videos can be found on our multimedia page here).
This week we offer you a short video with some pre- and post-race thoughts from three of our riders who were at Lake Geneva Sunday:
In case you missed it, the unofficial end of summer was celebrated over the weekend, In true GVR style, it included a pair of flats tires on the road.
Gryphon Velo Racing 